Improving post-rainy season sorghum productivity in medium soils: does ideotype breeding hold a clue?

• Published in: Current science (Bangalore) Vol. 102; no. 6; pp. 904 - 908
• Main Authors: Reddy, P. Sanjana, Patil, J. V., Nirmal, S. V., Gadakh, S. R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Current Science Association 25.03.2012
• Subjects: Adaptations; Agricultural soils; Agrology; Chitra; Dry matter accumulation; Grains; Panicles; Plants; RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS; Soil depth; Soil water; Sorghum; Yield to maturity; India, Maharashtra
• ISSN: 0011-3891

Improvement in post-rainy sorghum grain yield has been a challenge with M 35-1, a landrace selection released in 1937 dominating the post-rainy (rabi) tracts. It led to stagnation of post-rainy sorghum yields until the importance of specific adaptation was realized in lieu of highly variable soil and climatic conditions of post-rainy growing regions. As a result, Phule Maulee and of late Phule Chitra were released for regions of Maharashtra with medium soil depth. These varieties were compared with M 35-1 in medium soil depth under receding soil moisture conditions for grain attributes and physiological traits in order to define a crop ideotype that is suitable for such regions, which will further facilitate rapid breeding process. On evaluation of these three varieties (Phule Maulee, Phule Chitra and M 35-1) along with 13 other varieties for three consecutive years, from 2006–07 to 2008–09 in medium soils, it was found that when compared to M 35-1, double the grain yield can be obtained by selecting for double the per day grain productivity, 50% higher biomass and per day fodder productivity, harvest index above 30, 5–10% more earhead emergence, 5% bolder seed, 5% higher relative water content. These traits can lead to the development of new varieties suitable for medium soil situations. Apart from high panicle dry matter (50% of total dry matter), these varieties should also have efficiency in conversion of photosynthates to the grain.